355th Tactical Fighter Wing

355th Fighter Wing
Four Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from the 355th Operations Group
Active	1942—1946; 1955-1958; 1962-1970; 1971-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Steeple Morden Strafers (WW II)
Motto(s)	Our Might Always
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V device Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Scott C. Campbell
Notable commanders	John D. W. Corley Michael Dugan George B. Simler Bud Anderson
Insignia
Original form of the emblem as approved

The 355th Fighter Wing (355 FW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command's Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where in operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The wing's mission is to provide close air support (CAS), air interdiction (AI), forward air control (FAC), combat search and rescue (CSAR), ground based tactical air control, and airbase operations.

355th Operations Group (355 OG)

355th Maintenance Group (355 MXG)

355th Mission Support Group (355 MSG)

355th Medical Group (355 MDG)

The 355th Fighter Group was first activated 12 November 1942. Originally equipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, the group began using North American P-51 Mustangs in Spring, 1944.

The group was under the command of the 65th Fighter Wing of the VIII Fighter Command, Eighth Air Force. The aircraft group identification was white spinners and cowling bands.

The group consisted of the following squadrons:

The 355th FG flew its first combat mission, a fighter sweep over Belgium, on 14 September 1943 and afterwards served primarily as escort for B-17/B-24 bombers that attacked industrial areas of Berlin, marshalling yards at Karlsruhe, an airfield at Neuberg, oil refineries at Misburg, synthetic oil plants at Gelsenkirchen, locks at Minden, and other objectives. The group also flew fighter sweeps, area patrols, and bombing missions, striking such targets as air parks, locomotives, bridges, radio stations, and armoured cars.